“Roughly 2,700 VHS tapes featuring titles like “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” “Toxic Zombies” and “Buried Alive” arrived at Sterling Memorial Library last week. Yale has become the first institution in the country to actively collect VHS tapes, thanks to the initiative of Kaplanoff Librarian for American History David Gary and Aaron Pratt GRD ’16. Although the collection, which arrived late last week, is wide-ranging, a large portion consists of horror-genre movies, and most of the movies are from the 1970s and 80s.” (via Yale Daily News)

“OpenAthens, provider of software that helps libraries connect their users to online subscription content, has shared key findings from its recent research into librarians’ experience and perceptions of identity and access management. The research, which had more than 550 participants, found that although access management is seen as critical to meeting users’ needs and gaining maximum value from investment in resources, many librarians feel their organisation is behind the curve in terms of the current access management services they are able to offer to their users.” (via Research Information)

“Texas A&M University Libraries today acquired its five millionth volume, a rare first-edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 classic The Hobbit—a gift from award-winning sci-fi/fantasy author George R.R. Martin, creator of the best-selling book series “Game of Thrones.” “Over the last two decades the A&M Libraries has become one of the top 10 publicly-supported research libraries in this country [Association of Research Libraries (ARL) ranking] and this five millionth volume symbolizes that maturity as well as the depth our collections,” says David Carlson, dean of University Libraries.” (via Texas A&M Today)

“With less funding and increased costs, Missouri libraries face a major challenge. Libraries across the state are already experiencing funding cuts, which could potentially worsen with Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposed budget for 2016 that includes nearly $6 million less in funds, or an estimated 80 percent reduction, for libraries statewide. The governor’s decision to withhold state aid for libraries is currently creating a revenue shortfall for Mid-Continent Public Library of about $400,000, said Mid-Continent President and CEO Steve Potter. With Nixon’s proposed budget for next year, the shortfall could be as much as another $200,000.” (via Examiner)

“Trumbull officials have temporarily removed private artwork displayed in its public library to protect the town from possible litigation after concerns were raised referencing arguing the painting infringes on copyright with the use of Mother Teresa’s image. The painting, which Dr. Richard Resnick donated to the library, shows Mother Teresa and other women marching, holding signs that say messages including “Onward We March,” “Planned Parenthood,” “Mission of Charity,” “Feed the Poor,” “Sister of Mercy,” “Shelter the Poor,” “Remember The Ladies,” “Hospital Reform,” “Right to Vote,” “19th Amendment,” “Equal Wages for Us,” “Not For Ourselves Only.” (via NBC Connecticut)

“UT Libraries has partnered with the Tennessee State Library and Archives and the Tenn-Share statewide library consortium to become a service hub for the Digital Public Library of America. Tennessee’s service hub was one of four successful applicants added to the DPLA network in February 2015. For most of American history, the ability to access materials for free through public libraries has been a central part of the culture, producing generations of avid readers and a knowledgeable, engaged citizenry. The DPLA sustains that tradition by bringing together the riches of America’s libraries, archives, and museums, and making them freely available online through a single platform and portal.” (via Tennessee Today)

“The New Orleans Public Library is taking some steps to keep library doors open with funding running out. Thursday morning there was a Turn the Page on Literacy event for young students, with the hope of turning the page on its finances. The library is looking to make New Orleans the most literate city in America by 2018 and city leaders say they can’t do it without the money behind them to keep the libraries open.” (via WWLTV)

“When a wealthy family bequeathed a collection of rare Bibles and Shakespeare folios to Gordon College in 1922, it came with a catch: the works had to remain intact and with the school. That’s why a descendant of the late collector Edward Payson Vining, a railroad executive and bibliophile, was surprised to learn that Gordon plans to auction off 10 percent of the 7,000 volumes this fall. The sale is expected to fetch as much as $2.5 million.” (via The Boston Globe)

“With the future of many libraries in Northern Kentucky in the hands of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, a bill introduced by a Kentucky lawmaker would address the issue at the heart of the controversial lawsuits challenging library taxes. House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, introduced the bill that would allow library boards to raise property taxes just like any other taxing district and would declare valid all property tax rates passed since 1979. Libraries across the state await the appeals court’s decision on two rulings by circuit court judges in Campbell and Kenton counties that found libraries formed by petitions have improperly raised property taxes for more than 30 years.” (via cincinnati.com)

It’s a cold afternoon in Elephant and Castle, but the meeting room at the Feminist Library is packed with women. The range of ages is startling: as young children are led in by their father, an older woman is buying the donated Chelsea buns someone has brought along. Inside the library’s meeting room, people are beginning to gather around tables laid out with paper and pens. There’s a good reason for braving the cold, for today the Feminist Library is hosting “Knowledge is our Superpower”, the first in a series of salons celebrating the library’s 40th anniversary. Featuring a comic drawing workshop, a lecture on Batgirl and a panel discussion, the day is themed around a question whose answer is probably, in this setting, an inevitable conclusion: “does feminism need a library?” (via New Statesman)